Three Days Have Passed! Meeting Tianxin After a Full Year!

Inside Tianxin's courtyard. He remained sitting cross-legged with closed eyes, quietly comprehending. His Slaughter Conception was only a hair's breadth away from reaching absolute perfection. He had waited for this day for a very long time. Yet, the closer the Slaughter Conception came to perfection, the less slaughter he actually needed; instead, what he required was inner tranquility. Therefore, over these past years, Tianxin had rarely made a move and rarely killed anyone. Who could have imagined that Tianxin, whose cultivation in the Slaughter Conception was on the verge of perfection, was not a bloodthirsty maniac, nor did he believe in mindless butchery. What he cultivated was the mind! "Things have already reached this point, Tianxin, yet you can still sit there so calmly." A black-robed martial artist walked inside. Tianxin, however, still did not utter a single word. The black-robed martial artist took a deep breath, suppressing the restlessness in his chest, and said in a heavy voice, "Tianxin, Sheng Yuanyi is dead. Did you know?" "Mm? Sheng Yuanyi is dead?" Tianxin opened his eyes. "Indeed. Sheng Yuanyi was slain by Dao Twelve. Now Dao Twelve is ranked second on the Divine Strength Ranking. Furthermore, he passed along word challenging you to a duel three days from now, at the very spot where you hunted down the Barbarian Slaying Squad a year ago." "Tianxin, haven't you always been looking for an opponent? Now your opponent has arrived! To be able to slay Sheng Yuanyi, this Dao Twelve's strength is by no means weak." "This time, will you go or not?" The black-robed martial artist stared intently at Tianxin. He knew Tianxin rarely acted, and did not even heed the orders of Northern Barbaria. Even when he had acted last time, it was because a Dao Comprehension Pill had been offered as a reward. This time, there was no reward whatsoever. Whether Tianxin acted or not depended entirely on Tianxin himself. "Sheng Yuanyi..." Tianxin murmured softly. "I'll go. Why wouldn't I?" "This Dao Twelve is an interesting opponent. Slaying Sheng Yuanyi means his strength must be extraordinary." "Since he has challenged me to a duel, what harm is there in going to see him?" A faint smile appeared on Tianxin's face. Just moments ago, while contemplating movement after prolonged stillness, Tianxin had suddenly experienced an inexplicable premonition. Perhaps this trip would mark the very moment his Slaughter Conception reached absolute perfection! For his Slaughter Conception to achieve perfection, he ultimately needed an opponent of sufficient caliber. Dao Twelve! A person Tianxin had failed to kill when he struck a year ago. Now, he had openly challenged Tianxin to a duel. To Tianxin, Dao Twelve truly had sufficient weight! "Good. If you go, success is assured." "This Dao Twelve seems to possess large-scale perception abilities, making him a massive nuisance on the Northern Region Battlefield." "If you can slay him, do not hold back!" the black-robed martial artist said gravely. "Lightning may strike once, but not twice. He managed to escape from my hands last time, but there won't be a second time." "Three days from now, I will slay Dao Twelve!" Tianxin closed his eyes once more. A smile appeared on the black-robed martial artist's face as well. No matter how dissatisfied he might be with Tianxin's attitude, he placed absolute trust in Tianxin's strength. If Tianxin made a move, Dao Twelve was certain to die! *** Beiling City, inside Lu Changsheng's courtyard. "The Mind Sword Formula..." Lu Changsheng flipped through the Mind Sword Formula he had retrieved from Sheng Yuanyi's corpse. Rather than calling this a sword technique, it was more accurate to describe it as a mental secret method. It required converting all of a martial artist's spirit into a "Mind Sword." This transformation was exceptionally difficult. Moreover, spirit was ethereal and elusive; in fact, many martial artists, even those in the Divine Strength Realm, could not necessarily sense their own spirit, let alone transform it into a Mind Sword. This was the "talent" demanded by the Mind Sword Sect. One had to be capable of sensing spirit. For Lu Changsheng, this presented no problem at all. Spirit and martial conceptions were closely intertwined. The stronger one's martial conception, the stronger one's spirit. Having comprehended four martial conceptions, Lu Changsheng had long been able to sense his spirit with incomparable clarity. Thus, all that remained was the "transformation." Transforming spirit into a Mind Sword was normally a lengthy process. Yet Lu Changsheng possessed extraordinary comprehension; with a single glance, he grasped the essence of the Mind Sword. Consequently, the transformation progressed at tremendous speed. One day, two days, three days... *Whoosh...* A gentle breeze swept by. Lu Changsheng's mind was utterly tranquil. Yet at this moment, his spirit had become extraordinarily sharp, like a keen blade. "It is done!" Lu Changsheng opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing across his gaze. "Three days have passed..." Today was the day of his duel with Tianxin. And he had successfully converted his spirit into a Mind Sword. Lu Changsheng summoned his attribute panel. Host: Lu Changsheng Comprehension: 2,866 (Praised in All Directions) Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method: Cast sword for 14 years and 3 months. Mind Sword Formula: Progress 1% (Mind Sword) Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception: Progress 53% Wind of Perception Conception: Progress 72% Starry Sky Waterfall Conception: Progress 11% Ocean Wave Conception: Progress 25% He had initiated the Mind Sword Formula, reaching 1% progress. Furthermore, according to the manual, the Mind Sword was divided into several stages. The most basic was a white Mind Sword. Only when the nurtured Mind Sword reached perfection could it undergo metamorphosis into the next stage. With each metamorphosis, the Mind Sword's might would surge by leaps and bounds. The Mind Sword Formula possessed immense potential; the Divine Strength Realm was merely the beginning. Lu Changsheng surmised that it would likely require reaching 100% progress before the Mind Sword Formula underwent metamorphosis. On the attribute panel, aside from the addition of the Mind Sword Formula, Lu Changsheng's overall stats had not changed drastically. After all, it had only been three days, which merely added one month of nurturing to the blood qi sword. The most significant change was the Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception, which had reached 53% progress. Surpassing 50%, the Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception had faintly begun a subtle metamorphosis. Lu Changsheng had not tested it yet. However, he knew that if the Wind of Heaven and Earth Conception were applied to his saber art, a progress of 53% would surely push the speed of his strikes to an unfathomable level. If layered together with the Ocean Wave Conception, the strike he unleashed would be terrifying to the absolute extreme! What was more, he still had the Qi and Blood Sword Casting Secret Method! No matter what means Tianxin possessed, today, Tianxin had to die! Lu Changsheng stood up, his calm gaze revealing an unshakeable resolve. He pushed open the door. Outside, a dense crowd of people was gathered. They were all jianghu martial artists who had specifically rushed to Beiling City. Over the past three days, news of Dao Twelve challenging Tianxin had already spread far beyond Beiling City. Countless jianghu martial artists had swarmed over. "Mister Dao." Everyone wore deeply respectful expressions. Lu Changsheng nodded without speaking, heading straight out toward the outskirts of Beiling City. On both sides of the streets, martial artists cupped their fists in salute to Lu Changsheng at every turn. Whether they had recognized Dao Twelve before or not, at this moment, they knew who he was! "That is Dao Twelve." "In all this time on the Northern Region Battlefield, who has dared challenge Tianxin to a duel? Only Dao Twelve." "The battle between Dao Twelve and Tianxin can truly be called the pinnacle battle of the Divine Strength Realm. It cannot be missed." Many people murmured in low voices. None of them wanted to miss this fight. Lu Changsheng walked all the way to the city gates. The gates were packed with people, but upon seeing Dao Twelve's arrival, they automatically parted to make way. Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng strode straight out of Beiling City. Beyond the walls lay the vast, desolate grasslands—the Northern Region Battlefield where countless martial artists had met their ends. Step by step, Lu Changsheng walked toward the agreed-upon location. Before long, Lu Changsheng reached the spot. He would never forget this place. A year ago, You Shifei, Yang Zhen, Tong Xuan, and Tie Yuan had died right here to protect Dao Twelve. It was also from that day onward that the Barbarian Slaying Squad had vanished completely for a full year. Tianxin did not seem to have arrived yet. Lu Changsheng was in no hurry. Standing in place, he closed his eyes and waited in silence. Time ticked away bit by bit. Lu Changsheng could sense many people in the surrounding area, though they stayed far off—over ten li, some even twenty li away. The martial artists from Beiling City remained relatively close, some within ten li to watch the clash between Dao Twelve and Tianxin at closer range. The northern barbarians, on the other hand, kept their distance, staying well past ten li. Evidently, the northern barbarians held extreme dread toward Dao Twelve. Over the past month, Dao Twelve's relentless sweeps across the Northern Region Battlefield had terrified the northern barbarians to their bones. Even knowing Dao Twelve had challenged Tianxin and would not readily strike out at them, they still kept far away. Suddenly, Lu Changsheng raised his head. *Swish.* Lu Changsheng snapped his eyes open. Just now, he had sensed a white-robed figure. Though a full year had passed, his memory of this figure remained crystal clear. Lu Changsheng could only perceive him; he could not see him yet. However, the white-robed figure moved swiftly, and Lu Changsheng did not have to wait long before the figure came into view. Tianxin wore pure white robes. His movement technique could not be called elaborate, yet it was remarkably concise. He seemed to walk upon empty air. Of course, Tianxin was not truly walking on thin air. His feet still touched the green blades of grass. He was treading upon grass. A movement technique that appeared profoundly masterful in the eyes of many was performed by Tianxin with the effortless ease of taking a leisurely stroll. "You're finally here, Tianxin!" Lu Changsheng said slowly. He had never confronted Tianxin at such close range before. A year ago, Tianxin had relentlessly pursued Lu Changsheng, and a great distance had separated them the entire time. Now, as they stood facing each other, they were barely thirty paces apart. "Dao Twelve, were you the one who slew Sheng Yuanyi?" Tianxin asked. "Yes," Lu Changsheng responded calmly. "It seems you have reached that tier as well... ten thousand tripods of force!" A smile lingered on Tianxin's face. Even when killing people, Tianxin seemed to smile. Who could have thought that such a smiling person had comprehended the most terrifying Slaughter Conception, and had even brought it near to perfection? "I have a question." "Back then, how were you able to lock onto my location?" "Fearsome as your Slaughter Conception may be, it shouldn't have been able to pinpoint my position, should it?" Lu Changsheng suddenly asked. This question had weighed on his mind for an entire year. He wanted to know the answer. "The imperial court requested the assistance of Immortal Master Lingji, having the Immortal Master lock onto your position with divine sense before I struck," Tianxin answered truthfully. He did not hide it; after all, there was no point in concealing such a matter. Perhaps in Tianxin's eyes, Dao Twelve was already a dead man. "Immortal Master Lingji... so that was it..." Lu Changsheng came to an understanding. An Immortal Master! Those Immortal Masters possessed divine sense. The reach of divine sense was far broader than his Wind of Perception Conception. With Immortal Master Lingji's divine sense locking onto Lu Changsheng's position, no wonder he had been unable to shake Tianxin off no matter how he fled back then. However, the present was not the past. The current Lu Changsheng would run no longer. "Done asking?" "No more lingering regrets?" Tianxin seemed to be waiting for Dao Twelve to bring himself to his absolute peak state. The opponent he desired had to be someone who had reached the pinnacle in every aspect. Only such an opponent could allow Tianxin to successfully take that final step and bring his Slaughter Conception to absolute perfection. Lu Changsheng looked straight at Tianxin. He understood Tianxin's intention. "You want to use me as a whetstone." "Yet I only wish to cut you down!" The moment Lu Changsheng finished speaking, he activated his martial conceptions. *Hum.* The surrounding environment changed. What had been a boundless grassland instantly transformed into a pitch-black starry sky. Within that starry sky hung a three-thousand-foot waterfall that spanned the heavens. The colossal waterfall cascaded down. Faint rumbles of surging waves echoed out. From a distance, it looked as though a gigantic wave were sweeping forward. *Whoosh...* A fierce gale raged, propelling the massive wave into a surging crest a hundred feet high. "Three martial conceptions?" Tianxin's eyes lit up. Three martial conceptions! Coming here had truly been the right choice. Martial artists capable of comprehending three martial conceptions were exceedingly rare. Most martial artists focused whole-heartedly on comprehending just one. After all, even spending an entire lifetime on a single martial conception made reaching perfection difficult; attempting several made it nearly impossible. In the past, whenever Lu Changsheng unleashed these three conceptions, he immediately suppressed his opponents. Even Sheng Yuanyi had been no exception. The overlapping of Lu Changsheng's three martial conceptions had suppressed him just the same. Yet, facing Tianxin, the man showed not the slightest hint of concern. "Three martial conceptions layered together, complementing one another to produce a dramatic surge in power." "A pity you encountered me. These three martial conceptions are simply too weak..." Tianxin remained rooted to the spot without moving an inch. Yet the pitch-black starry sky seemed to suddenly be dyed blood-red. Boundless killing intent filled the surroundings. One could almost smell a thick, nauseating stench of blood. Yet it was all an illusion. The starry sky vanished. The ocean waves vanished. Even the wild wind seemed to come to an abrupt halt. In Lu Changsheng's eyes, only a sky full of blood remained. The boundless killing intent chilled him to the bone. The Slaughter Conception! At this moment, Lu Changsheng finally experienced the Slaughter Conception firsthand. Moreover, it was likely a Slaughter Conception with over 90% progress, perhaps even reaching 99%. When a martial conception reached 99%, it seemed to undergo a certain qualitative transformation. At this point, a realization dawned in Lu Changsheng's heart. Whether three martial conceptions or four. Even five, six, seven, or ten martial conceptions were utterly meaningless before a Slaughter Conception at 99% progress. All of them would be shattered and suppressed! Lu Changsheng finally understood why You Shifei and the others, who clearly possessed formidable strength, had been unable to withstand even a single strike from Tianxin when joining forces. Anyone who had not faced Tianxin's Slaughter Conception directly could never comprehend just how terrifying a near-perfect Slaughter Conception truly was. *Clang.* The next instant, Lu Changsheng drew his saber without hesitation. A streak of blood-red light cleaved through the air. Lu Changsheng's saber cleared its sheath. The Three Transformations of the Divine Dragon inside his body instantly augmented his physical strength, empowering this slash with a full six thousand tripods of force. However, though Lu Changsheng's three martial conceptions were layered and channeled into the saber technique, he felt no augmentation from them whatsoever. They were suppressed! Tianxin's Slaughter Conception directly suppressed Lu Changsheng's three martial conceptions, rendering them entirely incapable of empowering the strike. Thus, this slash carried only six thousand tripods of force. *Boom.* The blood-red saber light descended, yet Tianxin merely threw a casual, drifting punch. A torrential wave of crimson surged backward, instantly engulfing Lu Changsheng's blood-red saber light. It vanished. Lu Changsheng's saber light disappeared completely. Lu Changsheng's pupils shrank slightly. This was the first time drawing his saber had failed to produce any effect. What was more, Tianxin had remained standing where he was, not having moved a single step. "I underestimated you after all..." Lu Changsheng said slowly. Tianxin truly lived up to his name as the foremost expert on the Divine Strength Ranking! Tianxin had no flashy, convoluted tricks. He possessed only the Slaughter Conception. He had cultivated "purity" to the absolute peak. Lu Changsheng admitted he had underestimated Tianxin's Slaughter Conception. He had not expected that under the suppression of Tianxin's Slaughter Conception, his three martial conceptions could not even augment his saber technique, preventing him from unleashing their combined might. Yet how could Lu Changsheng have come unprepared? "My turn!" A smile touched the corner of Tianxin's mouth. He raised a single finger. With just that one finger, he thrust straight toward Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng remembered this finger strike vividly; a year ago, Tianxin had used this exact gesture to slaughter You Shifei. Now, Lu Changsheng faced that same finger. The terrifying Slaughter Conception instantly clamped down on Lu Changsheng, rendering him seemingly unable to move a muscle. "*Lin!*" Suddenly, Lu Changsheng unleashed the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method. The suffocating pressure around him seemed to be swept away in an instant. At the same time, Tianxin's spirit violently trembled. The thrusting finger even paused for a brief instant. Yet that was all. Tianxin's spirit was exceptionally condensed; the Nine-Word Mantra Secret Method could only stun him for a mere split second. A split second did not seem like enough to change anything. "Sever!" Lu Changsheng shouted softly. Accompanying his soft shout, the Mind Sword that Lu Changsheng had only just formed slashed straight into Tianxin's spirit.